PATTERN OF MMP2 AND MMP9 EXPRESSION DEPENDS ON BREAST CANCER PATIENTS' AGE.

BACKGROUND: Despite the large number of studies devoted to the study of the features of tumor microenvironment in breast cancer (BCa), presently there is no consensus on the features of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in the tumor tissue of BCa patients depending on the age. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between MMP-2 and -9 expression at the protein and mRNA levels in BCa tissues and the clinical and pathological features of BCapatientsin different age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression level of MMP-2 and -9in the BCa tissue of patients of two age groups (< 45 years and > 45 years) was studied using the bioinformatics method (UALCAN database), immunohistochemical method, and real-time PCR. RESULTS: It was established that a characteristic feature of BCa in young patients is the low level of MMP2 mRNA against the background of increased expression of this gelatinase at the protein level, as well as decreased expression of MMP9 at both the mRNA and protein levels. When analyzing the correlation of the gelatinase expression indices in BCa tissue of young patients, depending on the clinical and pathological features, a significantly lower level of MMP-2 expression was recorded in BCa cases of stage II compared to the indices of stage I cases. High expression of MMP-2 and -9 was recorded in BCa tissue in node-positive cases and the basal molecular BCa subtype. CONCLUSIONS: The identified relationship between the expression of the studied gelatinases and such indices of BCa malignancy as its stage, positive regional lymph node status, and the molecular BCa subtype in young patients indicates the need for further research of the features of the tumor microenvironment to predict the cancer aggressiveness.

PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF RESIDUAL TUMOR FEATURES IN HER2-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER.

The aim of the study was to examine the prognostic value of immunobiological markers (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and their subpopulations) in residual tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) completion in patients with triple negative (TNBC) and luminal B HER2-neu negative breast cancer (LBBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis of the treatment results of 59 patients with TNBC and 56 patients with LBBC with stage IIB-IIIB who received NACT was performed. The levels of TILs and their subpopulations (FOXP3+, CD4+, CD8+) in patients at the time of diagnosis in core-needle biopsy material and in residual tumor in postoperative material were studied by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The risk of recurrence in patients with LBBC who received NACT before surgery is associated mainly with 4 factors: FOXP3+ lymphocytes, Ki-67 index in residual tumor, the number of affected axillary lymph nodes after NACT and viable residual tumor volume. Analysis of the treatment outcome in patients with TNBC revealed that the lack of pathologic complete response (pCR) after NACT increases the risk of disease recurrence by 2.9 times, hazard ratio (HR) = 2.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-6.1; p = 0.005) compared with patients in which pCR was achieved after NACT. It was also found that the presence of residual tumor in patients with TNBC after NACT increases the risk of death from this disease by 2.7 times (95% CI 1.0-7.1; p = 0.05). Increased intratumoral and stromal CD8+ lymphocyte counts in the residual tumor after NACT significantly reduces the risk of death from TNBC, HR = 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.9; p = 0.01) and HR = 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-0.9; p = 0.008), respectively. Increase in intratumoral CD4+ lymphocytes in residual tumor in the non-pCR group reduces by half the risk of death from TNBC, HR = 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-1.0; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate a favorable prognostic value of TILS in residual tumor in TNBC. It is also reasonable to include the determination of the level of FOXP3+ lymphocytes in the residual tumor in the standard algorithms for stratification of risk groups.

Polymer nitric oxide donors potentiate the treatment of experimental solid tumours by increasing drug accumulation in the tumour tissue.

The delivery of nitric oxide (NO) specifically to solid tumours was explored in this study as a strategy to augment the passive accumulation of nanomedicines in tumours induced by the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. An increase in accumulation was achieved by the binding of the chemical precursor of NO, based on an organic nitrate, to a water-soluble synthetic polymer drug carrier. Four structurally different N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA)-based polymer NO donors were synthesized. Depending on their chemical structure, two of these donors were hydrolytically stable, while two rapidly released the parent nitrate under acidic conditions, mimicking the intracellular environment. The polymer NO donors were shown to overcome the drawbacks related to low-molecular-weight NO releasing compounds, namely systemic toxicity, lack of site specificity, and fast blood clearance. The NO donors showed intracellular NO release upon incubation with tumour cells. In vivo, they potentiated the EPR effect, resulting in an increased accumulation of polymer-bound cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (Dox) in EL4 T-cell lymphoma inoculated in mice. This led to a better therapeutic outcome in the treatment of lymphoma with the high-molecular-weight polymer conjugates carrying Dox but not in the treatment with the free Dox. The localized augmentation of the EPR effect via the tumour-specific NO delivery system can be viewed as a promising strategy to potentiate polymer-based tumour therapy without increasing systemic toxicity.

[THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY ON THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT].

Chemotherapy in modern oncology is one of the main methods of treatment, along with surgery and radiotherapy techniques. More than 60% of patients receiving chemotherapy at different stages of treatment. Recently, modern chemotherapy has become more urgent personal approach to the choice of drugs and their doses, aimed at reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy. Complications of chemotherapy significantly degrade the effectiveness of the treatment of patients with malignant tumors, because they require lower doses of anticancer drug, or lengthening the intervals between cycles of chemotherapy, which affects treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Synthesis of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] conjugates of inhibitors of the ABC transporter that overcome multidrug resistance in doxorubicin-resistant P388 cells in vitro.

The effects of novel polymeric therapeutics based on water-soluble N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers (P(HPMA)) bearing the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox), an inhibitor of ABC transporters, or both, on the viability and the proliferation of the murine monocytic leukemia cell line P388 (parental cell line) and its doxorubicin-resistant subline P388/MDR were studied in vitro. The inhibitor derivatives 5-methyl-4-oxohexanoyl reversin 121 (MeOHe-R121) and 5-methyl-4-oxohexanoyl ritonavir ester (MeOHe-RIT), showing the highest inhibitory activities, were conjugated to the P(HPMA) via the biodegradable pH-sensitive hydrazone bond, and the ability of these conjugates to block the ATP driven P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump was tested. The P(HPMA) conjugate P-Ahx-NH-N═MeOHe-R121 showed a dose-dependent increase in the ability to sensitize the P388/MDR cells to Dox from 1.5 to 24 µM, and achieved an approximately 50-fold increase in sensitization at 24 µM. The P(HPMA) conjugate P-Ahx-NH-N═MeOHe-RIT showed moderate activity at 6 µM (∼10 times higher sensitization) and increased sensitization by 50-fold at 12 µM. The cytostatic activity of the P(HPMA) conjugate P-Ahx-NH-N═MeOHe-R121(Dox) containing Dox and the P-gp inhibitor MeOHe-R121, both bound via hydrazone bonds to the P(HPMA) carrier, was almost 30 times higher than that of the conjugate P-Ahx-NH-N═Dox toward the P388/MDR cells in vitro. A similar result was observed for P-Ahx-NH-N═MeOHe-RIT(Dox), which exhibited almost 10 times higher cytostatic activity than P-Ahx-NH-N═Dox.

[Cardiotoxicity of conservative treatment of solid tumors].

With an increasing number of long-term breast cancer survivors, the number of patients experiencing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity increas too. Anthracycline--and nonanthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity--clinically significant and frequent adverse event of conservative treatment of cancer. Echocardiogram and multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan--modalities that may overlook early changes that could identify patients at risk for anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity. However, monitoring cardiac function before and during therapy, continuous infusions of drugs, limiting lifetime anthracycline dose, using cardioprotectants such as dexrazoxane, and developing lipid formulations, may decreased risk of cardiotoxicity.

[Clinical and hematological aspects of follicular lymphoma]. / Kliniko-gematologicheskie osobennosti follikuliarnoi limfomy.

A comprehensive clinical-and-laboratory examination of patients with non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas revealed a lack of correspondence between results of histological and immunophenotypical investigations. The most characteristic feature appeared to be the presence of CD10, CD11a, and CD35 antigens. Absence of CD95 antigen on tumour cells is regarded as an unfavourable prognostic sign in patients with follicular lymphomas as is presence of CD10 antigen on the above cells.

A novel intron element operates posttranscriptionally To regulate human N-myc expression.

Precisely regulated expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes is essential for normal development, and deregulated expression can lead to cancer. The human N-myc gene normally is expressed in only a subset of fetal epithelial tissues, and its expression is extinguished in all adult tissues except transiently in pre-B lymphocytes. The N-myc gene is overexpressed due to genomic amplification in the childhood tumor neuroblastoma. In previous work to investigate mechanisms of regulation of human N-myc gene expression, we observed that N-myc promoter-chloramphemicol acelyltransferase reporter constructs containing sequences 5' to exon 1 were active in all cell types examined, regardless of whether endogenous N-myc RNA was detected. In contrast, inclusion of the first exon and a portion of the first intron allowed expression only in those cell types with detectable endogenous N-myc transcripts. We investigated further the mechanisms by which this tissue-specific control of N-myc expression is achieved. Using nuclear run-on analyses, we determined that the N-myc gene is actively transcribed in all cell types examined, indicating a posttranscriptional mode of regulation. Using a series of N-myc intron 1 deletion constructs, we localized a 116-bp element (tissue-specific element [TSE]) within the first intron that directs tissue-specific N-myc expression. The TSE can function independently to regulate expression of a heterologous promoter-reporter minigene in a cell-specific pattern that mirrors the expression pattern of the endogenous N-myc gene. Surprisingly, the TSE can function in both sense and antisense orientations to regulate gene expression. Our data indicate that the human N-myc TSE functions through a posttranscriptional mechanism to regulate N-myc expression.

Expression of the c-Myc protein in childhood medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of c-Myc protein expression in medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (MB/PNET) and to identify mechanisms in addition to c-myc gene amplification that lead to increased protein expression. METHODS: We analyzed c-myc gene copy number, mRNA level and protein expression in a panel of MB/PNET cell lines. C-Myc protein levels were assessed in tumor specimens and cell lines using immunohistochemical staining with a c-Myc-specific monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Southern analysis confirmed c-myc gene amplification in the D425 MED cell line and re-arrangement of one allele in D283 MED, which was analyzed further and appeared to represent a small deletion 3' of exon 3. C-myc transcript levels were dramatically elevated in both lines. Using a c-myc probe, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed c-myc present in 3 tandem copies at 8q24 in D283 MED and multiple copies as double minutes in D425 MED. Immunohistochemistry showed c-Myc protein expression in 9 of 10 tumors and all cell lines, regardless of gene amplification status or level of mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: c-Myc protein expression is common in MB/PNET tumor specimens and cell lines. Elevated protein levels are observed in the absence of amplification, suggesting that multiple mechanisms of c-myc dysregulation may be involved in MB/PNET. These studies support a role for c-Myc in the development of this common childhood tumor.

Autoregulation of the human N-myc oncogene is disrupted in amplified but not single-copy neuroblastoma cell lines.

Amplification of the N-myc gene is a significant adverse prognostic factor in neuroblastoma, a common childhood tumor. In non-transformed cells, myc expression is controlled through an autoregulatory circuit, through which elevated Myc protein levels lead to down-regulation of myc transcription. The precise mechanism of myc gene autoregulation is unknown. Loss of c-myc autoregulation has been documented in transformed cells from a number of different lineages, but N-myc autoregulation has not yet been investigated. In neuroblastoma, the increased N-Myc protein produced by amplified tumors would be expected to silence N-myc transcription if the autoregulatory loop were intact. To determine whether N-myc autoregulation is operative in human neuroblastoma, and to localize cis-acting elements which mediate N-myc autosuppression, we transfected a series of N-myc 5' promoter constructs into a panel of human neuroblastoma cell lines carrying one or multiple copies of N-myc. The transfected promoter was equally active in single-copy and amplified lines. Significant promoter activity in the presence of abundant Myc protein in amplified neuroblastoma lines indicates that autoregulation is disabled in this subset of tumors. To investigate whether single-copy lines produce insufficient N-Myc protein to trigger autosuppression yet retain an intact autoregulatory circuit, we transfected neuroblastoma lines with 5' promoter constructs in the presence of a c- or N-myc expression vector. Overexpression of c- or N-Myc resulted in diminution of activity of both the transfected promoter and the endogenous N-myc gene in single-copy, but not amplified lines. Using a series of 5' promoter-deletion minigenes, we localized a cis-acting element required for autoregulation close to the transcription start sites. While the precise mechanism of autosuppression remains unknown, we demonstrated that Myc is incapable of silencing the adenovirus major late promoter (AdMLP) in neuroblastoma cells, indicating that Myc suppression of its own promoter and the AdMLP involve distinct components. These studies provide the first systematic investigation of autoregulation in neuroblastoma, and indicate that single-copy neuroblastoma lines produce insufficient N-Myc protein to activate downstream effector(s) of autosuppression; the autoregulatory circuit is otherwise intact. Amplified lines, in contrast, have lost autoregulation.

Multiple congenital anomalies in a man with (X;6) translocation.

X;autosome translocations in humans, often associated with congenital anomalies or with gonadal dysgenesis syndromes, are informative for the study of X-linked gene expression and of the phenomenon of X chromosome inactivation. When such translocations occur in association with multiple congenital anomaly (MCA) syndromes, the observed phenotypes are not always attributable solely to disruption of specific genes, if X-inactivation spreads onto the translocated autosome, rendering some distal genes inactive. We report on a man with multiple congenital anomalies and a maternally inherited (X;6)(p22.1;p25) translocation. He has abnormalities not described in the Klinefelter or 6p deletion syndromes. His unique findings constitute a recognizable syndrome, which is likely caused by disomy for a region of Xp in conjunction with a partial 6p deletion.

[The correction of anemia with a high requirement for transfusion in patients on maintenance hemodialysis by conventional and reduced doses of recombinant human erythropoietin]. / Corrección de la anemia con alto requerimiento transfusional de pacientes en hemodiálisis de mantenimiento mediante dosis convencionales y reducidas de eritropoyetina recombinante humana.

The hematologic findings of chronic renal failure are consistent with hypoproliferative anemia; the pathogenesis of the anemia is primarily due to decreased erythropoietin production by the diseased kidneys. There are aggravating factors (AF) contributing to this primordial cause: inhibitors to erythroid marrow function, shortened red cell survival, nonevident chronic blood loss (owing to uremic platelet dysfunction), iron and/or folate deficiency, aluminium toxicity, hemolysis (acute or chronic), etc. Ten patients with end stage renal disease, treated with maintenance hemodialysis and high transfusional requirement (more than 300 ml/month) are presented; in five the AF were discarded by a previously presented protocol (Table 1) and they were treated with human recombinant erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) intravenously, in conventional schemes (three times a week) and doses (195 +/- 41 Units/Kg)-Group A-. The AF were not studied in the other five and the r-HuEPO treatment employed different doses (125 +/- 70 U/K/W) and protocols (1.7 +/- 0.5 times a week)-Group B-(Table 2). The transfusional requirement disappeared and the hematocrit and the hemoglobin rose significantly in both groups (more in group A) (Table 3). The significant drop in ferritin levels (147 +/- 30 ng/ml vs 27.5 +/- 11 ng/ml at the 12th week) and the stabilization in reticulocyte count (1.4% at start vs 2% at 12th week) indicate iron consumption; in the meantime, the persistent increment in reticulocyte production index (1 at start vs 3 at 12th week) revealed a continuous stimulation of the erythropoiesis (Fig. 1). No clinical and/or vascular complications were observed; arterial pressure and serum potassium levels did not rise significantly so that r-HuEPO treatment was not canceled in any case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Corrección de la anemia con alto requerimiento transfusional de pacientes en hemodiálisis de mantenimiento mediante dosis convencionales y reducidas de eritropoyetina recombinante humana. / [The correction of anemia with a high requirement for transfusion in patients on maintenance hemodialysis by conventional and reduced doses of recombinant human erythropoietin]

The hematologic findings of chronic renal failure are consistent with hypoproliferative anemia; the pathogenesis of the anemia is primarily due to decreased erythropoietin production by the diseased kidneys. There are aggravating factors (AF) contributing to this primordial cause: inhibitors to erythroid marrow function, shortened red cell survival, nonevident chronic blood loss (owing to uremic platelet dysfunction), iron and/or folate deficiency, aluminium toxicity, hemolysis (acute or chronic), etc. Ten patients with end stage renal disease, treated with maintenance hemodialysis and high transfusional requirement (more than 300 ml/month) are presented; in five the AF were discarded by a previously presented protocol (Table 1) and they were treated with human recombinant erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) intravenously, in conventional schemes (three times a week) and doses (195 +/- 41 Units/Kg)-Group A-. The AF were not studied in the other five and the r-HuEPO treatment employed different doses (125 +/- 70 U/K/W) and protocols (1.7 +/- 0.5 times a week)-Group B-(Table 2). The transfusional requirement disappeared and the hematocrit and the hemoglobin rose significantly in both groups (more in group A) (Table 3). The significant drop in ferritin levels (147 +/- 30 ng/ml vs 27.5 +/- 11 ng/ml at the 12th week) and the stabilization in reticulocyte count (1.4

at start vs 2

at 12th week) indicate iron consumption; in the meantime, the persistent increment in reticulocyte production index (1 at start vs 3 at 12th week) revealed a continuous stimulation of the erythropoiesis (Fig. 1). No clinical and/or vascular complications were observed; arterial pressure and serum potassium levels did not rise significantly so that r-HuEPO treatment was not canceled in any case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Corrección de la anemia con alto requerimiento transfusional de pacientes en hemodiálisis de mantenimiento mediante dosis convencionales y reducidas de eritropoyetina recombinante humana. / [The correction of anemia with a high requirement for transfusion in patients on maintenance hemodialysis by conventional and reduced doses of recombinant human erythropoietin]

The hematologic findings of chronic renal failure are consistent with hypoproliferative anemia; the pathogenesis of the anemia is primarily due to decreased erythropoietin production by the diseased kidneys. There are aggravating factors (AF) contributing to this primordial cause: inhibitors to erythroid marrow function, shortened red cell survival, nonevident chronic blood loss (owing to uremic platelet dysfunction), iron and/or folate deficiency, aluminium toxicity, hemolysis (acute or chronic), etc. Ten patients with end stage renal disease, treated with maintenance hemodialysis and high transfusional requirement (more than 300 ml/month) are presented; in five the AF were discarded by a previously presented protocol (Table 1) and they were treated with human recombinant erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) intravenously, in conventional schemes (three times a week) and doses (195 +/- 41 Units/Kg)-Group A-. The AF were not studied in the other five and the r-HuEPO treatment employed different doses (125 +/- 70 U/K/W) and protocols (1.7 +/- 0.5 times a week)-Group B-(Table 2). The transfusional requirement disappeared and the hematocrit and the hemoglobin rose significantly in both groups (more in group A) (Table 3). The significant drop in ferritin levels (147 +/- 30 ng/ml vs 27.5 +/- 11 ng/ml at the 12th week) and the stabilization in reticulocyte count (1.4

at start vs 2

at 12th week) indicate iron consumption; in the meantime, the persistent increment in reticulocyte production index (1 at start vs 3 at 12th week) revealed a continuous stimulation of the erythropoiesis (Fig. 1). No clinical and/or vascular complications were observed; arterial pressure and serum potassium levels did not rise significantly so that r-HuEPO treatment was not canceled in any case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Long-term results of therapy of primary hypothyroidism in relation to immune status]. / Otdalennye rezultaty terapii pervichnogo gipotireoza v zavisimosti ot immunnogo statusa.

Disorders in the immune status of patients with hypothyroidism (idiopathic and postoperative) produce a negative effect on a course of disease. Periods of decompensation (exacerbation) develop in such patients more frequently than in patients suffering from hypothyroidism with the normally or moderately changed immune status.